Once the Smoke Clears the A’s Will Start Trading
I’m sure all you A’s fans have been huddled around your TVs or Computers just waiting for the A’s to start making some trades. I hope you aren’t too disappointed nothing has happened just yet. The A’s are going to have to wait for the Hunter Pences of the world to be off the table before they can really start dealing.
Even though the A’s have some of the hottest hitters in baseball you must remember a few weeks ago that same guy was stinking it up. I’m sure GMs around the league aren’t sure what to make of guys like Hideki Matsui and Conor Jackson. Heck I’m not sure if they can keep up this hot hitting. Once teams needing some offensive help run out of other options Billy Beane’s phone will start ringing.
I think late Friday or early Saturday you will see the A’s make their first trade. I also see some desperation moves when the deadline is winding down. A guy like Conor Jackson makes sense on a last second, shot in the dark, type trade. So be patient A’s fans. I believe we are only hours away from the flood gates opening.
Cliff Pennington Should Start Showing up in Trade Rumors
Since the All-Star break the A’s hottest player is Cliff Pennington. While he has still had his not so bright moments on defense, his offense has been pretty amazing. Since the break Pennington is batting .455 with 2 home runs, 7 rbis and an OPS of 1.211. Needless to say he has been on fire.
There should be several teams with question marks at short stop that I have to imagine will start inquiring about, the red hot, Cliff Pennington. The Giants, Red Sox, Pirates, Reds and Braves are all contenders for a playoff spot that need an upgrade at the short stop position. I have to imagine they all have their eyes on Cliff.
The downside that might keep teams away from trading for Cliff is his iffy fielding. He is not a sure thing with the glove. However he has a cannon for an arm and makes a lot of plays that you would never expect him to make. The other negative is the unknown. Pennington been on a bit of an offensive roller coaster in his first few seasons. His first and third seasons were not very good offensively but his fourth season stats are starting to match his strong second season stats. If he could improve upon year two’s stats, Cliff, could be on his way to a solid offensive season. For those two reasons teams maybe a little apprehensive about trading for Pennington but when you are in the middle of a playoff race sometimes you have to roll the dice.
The upside to Pennington is his age. Right now he is a middle of the pack short stop but because of his age and flashes of good hitting he can still be considered to have some decent potential. I’m not saying he will ever be a top 5 short stop but someday he could sneak into that top 10.
The reason I feel he is so trade-able at the moment is while he isn’t the best he would be a huge upgrade over some of the worst shorts stops who are currently starting for contending teams. I am not saying he will be traded but I am saying if his play continues can teams with a need at short stop not call and inquire? I can guarantee the A’s would be more than willing to listen to any offer.
The Law of Averages Catching up With the Oakland A’s Hitters
I said it a few times over the coarse of the last couple of months, “What are the chances that every player the A’s have will have their worst season offensively?”. Up until the All-Star break it looked like the chances were good. Just about every player was having the worst season of their career. Recently there has been a big turn around for the A’s and I feel like it’s just the law of averages catching up with them.
Over the first half the season players like David DeJesus, Hideki Matsui, Coco Crisp, Conor Jackson and Cliff Pennington were having one of the worst seasons of their careers, if not the worst. Over the last 7 games there has been a drastic turn around with these players. Each player is hitting over .300 if not better in the last 7 games and they all have at least 1 rbi but most have several.
I can only hope the hitting gets even more contagious. Players like Josh Willingham and Kurt Suzuki need to pick up their averages as well. I think this is too little too late as far as the playoffs go but as my blogging partner mentioned about Matsui’s trade value going up, the same is now true of all those other players. These A’s hitters are becoming more valuable by the minute.
If nothing else thought I am just excited to watch some winning baseball. Since coming back from the break the A’s are 6-4 and their play has become watchable again. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that this exciting baseball isn’t short lived. I don’t think it will be short lived. I do believe in the law of averages and could not imagine all those players having their worst career numbers in the exact same season on the exact same team.
Is Hideki Matsui Playing Himself Into Trade Bait
Hideki Matsui is lighting it up since the All-Star break. While for the A’s, this is a case of too little, too late, he may be playing himself into a real trade option. For the A’s, this would be a welcome sign from one of the biggest first half disappointments of an already disappointing season.
Since the break, Matsui has been batting .469 with two homers, two doubles, 11 RBIs, three walks with three strike outs.
Too bad he couldn’t hit when the A’s actually needed him to hit but getting something for Matsui would not be a bad thing. Even with this torrid streak he is on, Hideki is still batting .237 with eight homers and 45 RBIs.
Although these numbers are not particularly appealing, the fact is Matsui’s second half tear and playoff experience could make him an attractive bench player with pop for a playoff-bound team.
Oakland A’s Offense is Slowly Getting Better
Even though the A’s dropped 2 of 3 in New York they had to walk away feeling a little better about themselves, offensively anyway. The starting pitching struggled, well Gio and Cahill did, but that was to be expected against one of the best offenses in baseball. Especially with their history against the Yankees. What surprised me was the amount of hits the A’s were able to put together. I realize the Yankees pitching staff is average at best but the A’s have been dominated by average pitching all season.
Believe it or not the Oakland offense managed 38 hits over the 3 game series. Unfortunately the A’s did not do enough to turn those hits into runs. Don’t get me wrong 18 runs over 3 games is a great improvement for the A’s but when you are facing the Yankees you have to score with every chance you get.
Hideki Matsui had a great series going 7 for 13 with a home run and 2 rbis. He seems to be turning his season around. Hopefully this will make him more attractive to teams looking to add some offensive help.
The A’s offense seems to becoming around but it also seems to be too little too late. As far back as they are from a playoff spot don’t be fooled thinking now that they can hit the A’s can make a run. At least it may make for some more exciting baseball down the stretch. We will see if the A’s can keep up their offensive ways in Tampa Bay.
